European 14-year-old teenagers can now legally drive the Renault Twizy 45 EV

European 14-year-old teenagers can now legally drive the Renault Twizy 45 EV

France has adopted a new European directive, under which the law regarding light quadricycles has changed and now 14-year-old teenagers with a BSB road safety certificate can legally drive the Renault Twizy 45 EV.This also applies in Italy, Spain and if they have a moped license in Austria, Germany and Finland.

Good news for teenagers that live in Europe(especially for those that live in France) and not very good for their parents with not really deep pockets.

France has adopted a new European directive, under which the law regarding light quadricycles has changed and now 14-year-old teenagers with a BSB road safety certificate can legally drive the Renault Twizy 45 EV.This also applies in Italy, Spain and if they have a moped license in Austria, Germany and Finland.

A few words about the Renault Twizy 45 EV

Price starts at €6,990 ($7,600) in Europe with a monthly battery lease charge of €50.

The Twizy 45 is considered by Renault a safer and more comfortable alternative to a scooter. It comes with an airbag, double seatbelts, disc brakes, and a protective cell. The car is very small measuring 2.34-meters long x 1.24-metres wide and driver and passenger sit in a tandem arrangement.

The Twizy 45 has 5hp and a top speed of 28mph(45km/h). The battery pack needs 3.5 hours to charge fully via a standard 3-pin plug. With a full charge, the vehicle can drive about 60 miles per charge.

Of course, the Twizy 45 is like the entry-level model with a lot of limited stuff in it (the power output is limited to 4 hp, unlike the 17 hp of a regular model and the 45 takes 9.9 seconds to reach its maximum speed, whereas the full Twizy will get there in just 6.1 seconds) but for 14-year olds it's even for better.

Remember - safety first.

Will Renault launch this project in the US?

Renault says it’s sold some 15,000 Twizys in Europe since launching the thing half a decade ago, and we would love to see the automaker jump the pond and let American teens, or adults, climb in. Unlike other small European cars like the Smart, which is actually kind of expensive (base price is around $13,000), an $8,000 Twizy would be great for city-dwellers who want something faster and safer than a bicycle, and nearly as versatile. We could see it being popular for car-sharing services like Zipcar or as an alternative to bike sharing services in cities like New York and San Francisco.

There are reports that Renault, which left the US in 1987, is exploring the possibility of selling the car in Quebec, but entering an established market is risky business. Daimler, which owns Smart, has an established dealer and parts network in the United States already, making it easier to launch its sub-brand here, with modest success.

Renault has a strategic partnership with Nissan, so it’s possible the Twizy could make an appearance as a Nissan-badged product .

Well, let's wish them good luck and hope that we'll see small EVs from Nissan anyhow.

*What do you think about the Renault Twizy 45 EV? Would you like to buy such vehicle for your son/daughter or to have such one when you were 14-year old?

Do you agree or disagree with a a new European directive, under which the law regarding light quadricycles

has changed and made legal for 14-year olds with a BSB road safety certificate drive the Renault Twizy 45 EV?